It was billed as Cristiano Ronaldo vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Greg Olsen Authentic Jersey . Two superstars in the game head-to-head on a billboard and then on the field. One winner goes to the World Cup in Brazil; the loser stays home. It is a duel and a plot that would make Don King, Dana White or Vince McMahon weak at the knees. The trio would likely remove the 20 extras placed on the pitch for a real one-on-one duel but this was not solely about entertainment. Not in leg one of the two-legged affair, anyway. The Estadio de Luz in Lisbon was the stage, with two main characters in it, but it was always going to be more than just the two captains. At least for most of the game. We were sold on Ronaldo vs Ibra but the moment the matchup started it turned into an 11-man tag team match. Their faces would never appear on billboards but captains Ronaldo and Ibra tapped in others to attempt to gain a vital advantage for their team. Right back Joao Pereira had his moment in the middle of the ring, given constant space down the right flank, thanks to a Swedish narrow back four by design, to target Martin Olsson, while midfielders Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles dictated the tempo in midfield enjoying an extra man against Sweden wanting to play a man closer to their talisman, Ibrahimovic. The man with that responsibility was Johan Elmander, known more these days for his work rate rather than his goals (never a good thing for a striker), but next to the PSG man he provided a comfort blanket. Swedish coach Erik Hamren will have had nightmares of his team playing a 9-0-1 system with Ibrahimovic as disconnected to his team-mates as he is in overall talent. Ibra would tap Elmander into the theatre to sit defensively on Miguel Veloso and provide an aerial, physical threat that would create more space for himself. At times it worked but at halftime, with the game scoreless, the stats showed just what everyone, other than the aggressive promoters, knew too well. Ronaldos 23 touches ranked ninth on his team with only his goalkeeper and ineffective striker, Helder Postiga, less involved. Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, was involved even less, touching it just 17 times, and more than just three of his teammates. With so much on the line, it was predictably cagey. Ronaldo hit a free kick into a wall, at the other end Ibrahimovic stood over one for Sweden before tapping Kim Kallstrom into the ring and the left footed midfielder blasted the ball inches wide of the top left post. The Swedes offered the flanks to Portugal and they gladly took them. It allowed Pereira and left back Fabio Coentrao to play larger parts than they have for their clubs this season but it also forced Ronaldo and Nani inside, to play closer to the front man, and that made it easier to defend against, particularly with the ineffective Manchester United winger often giving the ball away. The first 45 minutes was average and the next 35 was even worse. Sweden got deeper and deeper, hoping for a sucker punch from a set piece, but this Portugal side is too mature for that. What the Ronaldo vs Ibra hype monsters failed to recognize was this Portugal team is comfortable when Ronaldo isnt involved. The midfield three have an understanding on how to control a game and their two centre backs rarely make a mistake and are far too experienced and talented to be overawed by the presence of Ibrahimovic. Ronaldo is used to letting his team do the work until he pounces. Four years ago in a World Cup playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Real Madrid man missed both legs through injury. His place in the World Cup lay in the hands of his teammates and they delivered. Two years ago, again in a playoff against Bosnia, Portugal were resolute in a 0-0 first leg away from home before coming home and allowing the brilliant Ronaldo to start a 6-2 onslaught with a trademark free kick goal. At the European Championships last summer, Ronaldo was poor against Denmark in the group stage but his team won at the death 3-2. They waited for the genius to step up and he did exactly that, with brilliant performances against the Dutch and Czechs, carrying his team to a semifinal against Spain where they matched the World Champions in all departments except penalties. That day in Donetsk, Ronaldo chose to be the fifth taker in the shootout and, uncharacteristically, his teammates let him down. Ronaldo couldnt save them that time, denied a penalty in a 4-2 shootout loss. Portugal has never done things the easy way and thats why they found themselves, once again, on show against Zlatan and his 10 extras in Lisbon on Friday night. It appeared the game was heading towards a drab 0-0 until Portugal found space again down the left flank. Veloso, this time, was the man on the wing, taking a fast throw in, creating a quick one-two with substitute Hugo Almeida, before sending in a delicious ball that needed a brave run and head on the end of it. As the ball swung dangerously into the six yard box, the main character had his big moment in the plot. Ronaldo brushed aside Olsson, getting his head to the ball and sending it into the net for the games only goal. At a similar time to his headed winner against the Czechs at last summers European Championships, Ronaldo had done it once again, delivering the key blow of the game and, possibly, the knockout blow in the matchup. It was a fitting moment. Portugal is too often criticized for not being good enough for Ronaldo but they are certainly good enough to provide him with yet another big platform to deliver on and that is why it is important they advance over Sweden in this playoff. A common thought heading into this game was that it will be sad that both Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic will not be in Brazil, but the reality is it will be a complete let down if a man as talented as Ronaldo is not in Brazil. He is on a different level to Ibrahimovic, who is a fine player himself, showing regularly, just like in this match, that he is one of the finest players to play the game. In Portugal he has a team that wont win the World Cup but they are certainly good enough to give him opportunities to show the world his talent (unlike Sweden with Ibrahimovic). In South Africa they had a coach who wouldnt allow that to happen but under Paulo Bento things are different. They do, of course, only have one foot on the plane to Brazil and their final destination will be determined in Sweden on Tuesday. It will likely be billed as Ronaldo holding advantage over Ibrahimovic, but it should be promoted as being the show that should book Ronaldos ticket to Brazil. That is one certainly worth signing up for. Derek Anderson Womens Jersey . The 35-year-old former Strikeforce welterweight champion was let go on Monday following over three years with the company. DeAngelo Williams Elite Jersey . Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans ended up with the bigger problem.MONTREAL -- It wasnt pretty or convincing, but it was a win and the Montreal Impact will take it. Felipe Martins scored in the 15th minute and the Impact held on for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on a rainy Saturday afternoon for their first win of the Major League Soccer season. It was the Impacts (1-4-3) first victory in 10 league games since a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia on Oct. 19 last season and their first clean sheet since a 5-0 thumping of Houston last Aug. 24. "We did a great job of fighting for every ball," said Felipe, who got his team-leading second goal of the season. "But the most important thing was the three points. "We waited for this a long time and its very nice to be back with a win." The Union (1-3-5) are winless in their last seven games and havent scored in their last two. It was Montreals first home game on the grass field at Saputo Stadium -- after playing three times indoors at Olympic Stadium -- but the stands were only half full in chilly, wet weather, although attendance was listed at 19,075. Felipe scored when Patrice Bernier stole the ball from Sheanon Williams and took a long shot that Zac MacMath blocked, only to fall to the Brazilian who banged in the rebound. The Impact and goalkeeper Troy Perkins spent the next 75 minutes holding off the Union, who outshot them 17-7 and wasted some glittering chances. "We have to grow and improve because we didnt play a good game for 90 minutes," said centreback Matteo Ferrari. "Some parts were good. "But it was very important to get the three points. For us, it wasnt a moment to play well but it was a moment to get points." It was the first meeting between the teams since the Impact sent Andrew Wenger to the Union for Jack McInerney in a swap of strikers three weeks ago. Wenger was dangerous all afternoon, taking four shots, including two on goal. He missed the net by a long margin in the 22nd minute, but five minutes later forced Perkins to stretch out a hand to save a shot from the edge of the penalty area. "The whole teams been dangerous lately but we havent been able to put the ball in the back of the net," said Wenger, who has one goal in four games since the trade. "Thats whats frustrating. "We knew they were dangerous on counterattacck, like they were today, but we had the better of the play going forward. Jerricho Cotchery Black Jersey. We couldnt translate that into goals and thats something me and some other guys have to figure out." McInerney had a glittering chance in the 54th, but MacMath dove to get a hand on the shot. The striker known as Jack Mac said it was fun to play his former teammates. "Whenever Id walk by someone there would always be a little comment made, but at the end, it was business," he said. "Every tackle had a little something extra in it." It was also a first Impact win for former Chicago Fire coach Frank Klopas, who replaced the fired Marco Schallibaum in December. There had been grumbling among fans and the media that Klopas and sporting director Nick De Santis should be let go if the teams record winless run to start a season continued, although De Santis met with the media during the week to give his third coach in as many MLS seasons a vote of confidence. The discontent showed when their staunchest supporters who cluster behind the west goal held up banners that read: "3 years, 3 coaches, 1 De Santis." "It felt really good," Klopas said of the win. "Some games are not going to be pretty soccer and you have to find ways to compete. "It gives us confidence. You can do things in training, but its important to get results. You have more enthusiasm." The Impact would probably wish to play again as soon as possible, but they are entering a bye week and dont play again until May 7 when they face either Ottawa or Edmonton in a Voyageurs Cup semifinal. Their next league game is at home May 10 against Kansas City. The Impact are 4-1-2 against Philadelphia in two-plus seasons in MLS, including 4-0-0 in Montreal. Fullback Hassoun Camara was shown the yellow card for clotheslining Fabinho in the 37th minute. It was his fifth caution of the season and he will be suspended for Montreals next MLS game. The Union play next week at Seattle. Notes: Fullbacks Camara and Jeb Brovsky were back in the starting 11 for Montreal as Eric Miller and Maxim Tissot saw action as substitutes. Calum Mallace, who started last week, was back on the bench as McInerney started. . . Conor Casey and Crisitian Maidana were on the bench for Philadelphia while Fabinho started. cheap jerseys ' ' '
